Daddy issues

CHAPTER TWENTY: Snowdrop

TW: torture scenes!! It is graphic so please skip this chapter if it is too much, take care of yourself first!! Xx

*Draco's POV*

It stung. I could already feel the bruise forming on my swollen ribcage. I wouldn't have been surprised if I had a few broken ribs. He hit me hard. I could still feel the hard wood of the cane imprinted on my skin. My mother had disapparated us away from the scene so as no one would see us. She looked worse than me though, a dark purple bruise had settled high on her cheekbone, near her temple. That must have hurt, but I didn't dare ask her about it. I knew how Father could be, he was unforgiving and cruel. I worried about what he would do to Annabella, I knew what was about to happen... We all did, everyone except Bella. My mother had told me shortly after breakfast, the guilt of knowing had consumed her, she needed to tell someone. I just prayed he wasn't too rough on her as she had already repeatedly stated that she wasn't ready yet.

"Try not to think of it too much, darling. There is nothing we can do... We just have to be there for her in the aftermath." I heard my mother's soothing voice say as she noticed my worry that portrayed itself on my face.

"Did this happen to you too? Is it common for girls?" I asked feeling rather curious and frightened for Bella's safety.

"No, darling. I was already betrothed to your father. It's not common at all, very old fashioned actually. It is a cruel way to treat a woman..." she seemed to get lost in thought but quickly pulled herself out of it and changed the subject.
"Come now, let's get you healed." She beckoned me forward into her arms as she cast a healing spell, she seemed practised at it. Almost like she knew it all too well. I wondered how many times she had used it on herself without my knowledge. I wondered how many times he had hurt her. I wondered how many times he would hurt her... My Bella.

Can I call her mine? Technically she isn't... But she is at the same time. Maybe I'm just a bit of fun for her, stirred on by teenage hormones?

My Merlin, Draco! Pull yourself together! She is yours and you are hers... She is not just a bit of fun! And neither are you!

I shook myself from my thoughts and refocused my attention to my mother's skilful hand that so delicately relieved me of my pain. I watched as she then performed the same magic on herself, the purple menace disappearing entirely from her face.

"Mum? Why did her father choose him? Why Father? Of all people?"

"I'm not sure... I honestly don't know. Your father despises the thought of it just as much as us, but it must happen or we are all dead. However, I told him to go easy on her..." she admitted, looking ever so slightly defeated.

"She's a strong girl..." I tried to convince myself that she will do okay, I was just scared of seeing that light leave her eyes, of seeing her kindness slip away. I read in a book about how different people deal with trauma, I just hoped that I wouldn't lose the one good thing in my life to said trauma. She was my light in the darkness. I needed her.

Meanwhile at Borgin and Burke's:

*Annabella's POV*

I screamed and lashed out with my limbs trying to hold him off of me, but it was of no use. I lay there on the silk sheets of the bed crying, scratched, bruised and bloody. The man had hit me several times while restraining me and telling me to be quiet. I had accepted my fate, I had given up, letting my limbs fall limp as I lay on the bed naked and vulnerable, the salty tears still flowing down my cheeks. I tried my best to curl into a ball and hide myself from him, from the monster that seemed to examine my every move.